Laterally expanding surgical dilator

Abstract

A surgical dilator capable of dilating an incision in a patient is disclosed. The surgical dilator includes a main body having a distal end and a proximal end. A locking cap is connected with the proximal end of the main body that is operable to lock the surgical dilator in a closed state for insertion into an incision and to unlock the surgical dilator to an open state after being inserted into the incision. A plurality of blades having a second proximal end is pivotally connected with the distal end of the main body and extends downwardly toward a second distal end. When the surgical dilator is in the closed state the blades taper downwardly and inwardly from the second proximal end toward the second distal end to form an insertion tip and when the surgical dilator is in the open state the blades are operable to laterally expand.

1 . A surgical dilator, comprising:
 a main body having a distal end and a proximal end;   a locking cap connected with said proximal end of said main body operable to lock said surgical dilator in a closed state for insertion into an incision and unlock said surgical dilator to an open state after being inserted into said incision; and   a plurality of blades having a second proximal end pivotally connected with said distal end of said main body and extending downwardly toward a second distal end, wherein when said surgical dilator is in said closed state said blades taper downwardly and inwardly from said second proximal end toward said second distal end to form an insertion tip and when said surgical dilator is in said open state said blades are operable to laterally expand.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical dilator of  claim 1 , further comprising an expansion tube sized to be inserted into an interior cavity defined by said main body and make contact with an interior surface of each said blade, wherein as said expansion tube is compressed into said interior cavity said expansion tube causes said blades to laterally expand and dilate said incision. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical dilator of  claim 1 , wherein a width of each said blade is larger at said second proximal end and tapers to a smaller width at said second distal end. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical dilator of  claim 1 , wherein in said closed state said blades form a generally uniform cone-shaped blade. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical dilator of  claim 1 , further comprising a collar positioned between said proximal end of said main body and an end of said locking cap. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical dilator of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of locking pins connected with a lower surface of said collar and extending downwardly through a plurality of channels formed in said main body. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical dilator of  claim 6 , wherein in said closed state a third distal end of each said locking pin extends outwardly from said distal end of said main body and engages an aperture in a respective blade thereby forcing said blades into said closed state. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical dilator of  claim 6 , wherein in said open state a third distal end of each said locking pin is retracted away from said blades thereby allowing said blades to pivotally move in relation to said main body. 
     
     
         9 . A surgical dilator, comprising:
 a main body having a distal end and a proximal end;   a locking cap connected with said proximal end of said main body;   a collar positioned between said locking cap and said proximal end of said main body;   a plurality of locking pins connected with an end of said collar and positioned in a plurality of channels located in said main body, wherein a second distal end of said locking pins are operable to protrude outwardly from said channels on said distal end of said main body; and   a plurality of blades movably connected with said distal end of said main body, wherein said second distal ends of said locking pins are operable to engage an aperture in said blades to force said blades into a closed state for inserting said blades into an incision.   
     
     
         10 . The surgical dilator of  claim 9 , wherein said second distal ends of said locking pins are operable to be released from said blades so that said blades are operable to laterally expand. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical dilator of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of springs having a first portion positioned in a set of apertures located on said proximal end of said main body and a second portion in engagement with said end of said collar, wherein said springs are operable to force said locking cap upwardly thereby causing said distal ends of said locking pins to disengage said aperture in said blades thereby releasing said blades from said closed state. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical dilator of  claim 11 , further comprising a pin positioned in a proximal portion of said main body extruding through a control slot in a side surface of said locking cap, wherein as said locking cap is rotated about said main body said control slot includes a vertical slot portion that becomes aligned with said pin thereby causing said springs to force said locking cap upwardly thereby disengaging said locking pins from said aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical dilator of  claim 9 , wherein said locking cap includes a conductive area and at least a lower portion of at least one of said blades include a second conductive area, wherein said second conductive area is configured to transmit an electric signal to provide said surgical dilator with neural monitoring capabilities. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical dilator of  claim 9 , wherein said distal end of said main body includes a plurality of mounting arms and a third proximal end of each of said blades includes an arm, wherein said arms of said blades are oriented between said mounting arms of said main body and said arms are pivotally connected to said mounting arms with a plurality of pins. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical dilator of  claim 14 , wherein said pins are inserted into said mounting arms and into said arms of said blades through a plurality of pin channels located on a side surface of said mounting arms. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical dilator of  claim 9 , further comprising an expansion tube sized to be inserted into an interior cavity formed in said main body and into contact with an interior surface of said blades, wherein as said expansion tube is compressed downwardly said blades laterally expand when said blades are not in said closed state. 
     
     
         17 . A surgical dilator, comprising:
 a main body having a distal end and a proximal end;   a plurality of blades connected with and extending downwardly from said distal end of said main body;   means for orienting said blades in a locked state in which said blades combine to form a generally uniform blade structure having a generally cone-shaped configuration; and   means for orienting said blades in an unlocked state in which said blades can be laterally expanded.   
     
     
         18 . The surgical dilator of  claim 17 , wherein said means for orienting said blades in said locked state comprises a locking cap connected with said proximal end of said main body, a collar positioned between said proximal end and said locking cap having a plurality of locking pins connected therewith that extend through a plurality of channels in said main body to engage said blades to orient said blades in said locked state. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical dilator of  claim 18 , wherein said means for orienting said blades in said unlocked state comprises a control slot on a side surface of said locking cap and a pin extending through said control slot that is located on said main body, wherein when said pin is oriented in said control slot in a predetermined position said locking pins disengage said blades thereby allowing said blades to laterally expand. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical dilator of  claim 19 , wherein a plurality of springs are positioned between said proximal end of said main body and said collar to bias said locking pins in a position in which said blades are maintained in said unlocked state.